Perth
Day 1 : Wave Rock & Fitzgerald River National Park
Our adventure begins as we travel east from Perth over the Darling Ranges with our first coffee break in the historic township of York, WA’s oldest inland town. A bit more driving and you’ll be eating lunch in the shadow of Wave Rock. By late afternoon, we’ll have arrived in Fitzgerald River National Park, an internationally recognised world biosphere! Today we clock up a few kilometres and travel around 10 hours with stops along the way. Tonight we swag camp at Fitzgerald River National Park which has toilet but no showers.
Meal(s) included : Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 : Cape Le Grand National Park
Begin the morning with a hike up East Mt Baron then we’ll take the coastal route into Esperance. Get ready for some of Australia’s most spectacular scenery with this part of WA having no less than 9 National Parks & where we camp is the most spectacular of all, Cape Le Grand National Park. The ocean here is practically transparent, the local eastern grey ‘roos are regularly sunbaking on the beach and the sand at Lucky Bay has twice been judged Australia’s whitest. Enjoy a free afternoon here and how you spend it is wholly up to you. Set out on a coastal bushwalk, splash about in the sea, fiddle around with your camera aperture or just kick back with your new buds along the beach. Today we travel 2.5 hours with stops along the way. Walking time is about 3 hours and you’ll be swag camping with toilet and shower facilities at Cape Le Grand.
Meal(s) included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 : Cape Le Grand to The Nullarbor
Start the day with an early morning hike up Frenchman’s Peak which has stunning views across the inlets and islands of the Recherche Archipelago. Then we head to Norseman for lunch and then hit the Eyre Highway to start our journey east bound. Tonight you will get an IMAX version of the great southern sky where you’ll be left speechless by the show of constellations and shooting stars. Today’s driving time is about 5 hours and walking about 1 hour. Tonight we bush camp (no facilities) under the Southern skies on the Nullarbor.
Meal(s) included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 : The Nullabor & Koonalda Homestead
Driving’s the name of the game today (we’ve got 500 kilometres of the world’s longest stretch of straight road to cover!). Today will certainly give you a sense of the sheer size of this vast and ancient land. We’ll make a stop at Eucla, an old telegraph township now mostly buried beneath sand dunes, then call in for a night’s camping at Koonalda Homestead. Travel time today is about 6 hours and once again be prepared to be bedazzled by the wonders of the southern skies. Koonalda Homestead provides toilets but no showers.
Meal(s) included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 : Great Australian Bight & Coodlie Park
Stops for today include the highway’s famous Camels/Kangaroos/Wombats Crossing road sign and the Bunda cliffs, where the Nullarbor Plain drops dramatically into the Southern Ocean. Running for approximately 200 kilometres along the Great Australian Bight, this is the world’s longest uninterrupted line of sea cliffs. After stocking up on supplies in Streaky Bay, we’ll arrive at Coodlie Park bush camp – a working farm retreat that boasts its own private beach and offers an insight into the demands of rural living. Tonight you may share a meal and stories with travellers from our other tours sleep in our super cool swag huts with shower facilities available. Today we travel for about 8 hours with stops along the way
Meal(s) included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 : Coodlie Park & the Eyre Peninsula
Today is a day you’ll remember forever swimming with sea lions and dolphins in the clear waters off Baird Bay, on the Eyre Peninsula. (Please note: the Baird Bay Eco-tour is an optional outing you’ll need to book before your adventure begins. Cost is $180 per person; duration 3-4 hours). Those who choose to stay on land will travel to Point Labatt Conservation Park, the only place on the mainland where Australian seal pups can be seen learning to swim, play and rest on the beach. After lunch we'll explore more of the wild Eyre Peninsula including Murphy’s Haystacks, Talia Caves and the Lake Newland Sand Dunes where you have the chance to try sand boarding. Then its back on the bus to travel to our campsite at Mikkira Station. Home to a wild koala population, tonight you’ll sleep under the koala-filled gum trees. How Aussie is that! Drive time today is approximately 4.5 hours with stops along the way.
Meal(s) included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 : Mikkira Station & Port Lincoln
Today you are offered two very different itineraries. Those who love aquatic wildlife, and/or are seeking an adrenalin rush, can choose the full day optional experience of coming face-to-face with the majestic, Great White Shark. Please see ‘Optional Extras’ for more information. If you choose to stay on land, then you will be exploring the Eyre Peninsula’s amazing coastal scenery. From the wild and rugged Whalers Way, to the white, sandy beaches of Coffin Bay National Park. After lunch on the foreshore at Coffin Bay, we’ll head into Port Lincoln, also known as ‘Australia’s Seafood Capital’. Explore and enjoy some free time before picking up the rest of the group and heading back to the friendly koalas at Mikkira Station, where we camp for a second night. Drive time today is about 2.5 hours, unless you are doing the sharks experience in which case it is only 1 hour. All meals included.
Meals :Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 : Port Lincoln to Mt Remarkable
Surfing is a way of life in Australia, so today you’ll pull on a wetsuit for a two-hour learn-to-surf lesson in the calm and turquoise waters of Fisheries Bay in Port Lincoln. Those not wanting to surf will be able to relax, swim or explore.After lunch, it’s onwards to the ancient Southern Flinders Ranges and Mt. Remarkable National Park. We’ll set up camp for the night at Mambray Creek and then head out to see the abundant native wildlife that call this region home. Drive time today is 4.5 and we camp at Mt. Remarkable National Park, which has showers and toilets.
Meal(s) included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 : Mt Remarkable to Adelaide
We’re on the home stretch now – and the entrance into Adelaide provides a fitting finale. This morning we’ll embark on our last hike of the tour through Davey’s Gully. Back on the bus we’ll head towards Adelaide but not before travelling through some quaint country towns. South Australia is well known for its world-class wine and our last stop of the tour will be for lunch and wine tasting in the picturesque Clare Valley. Cheers to that. Drive time today is about 5 hours and this overland adventure wraps up on arrival in Adelaide around 6pm.
Departs: Sundays - Fortnightly Sep - Nov, Weekly Dec - Feb, Fortnightly Mar - May
Pick up locations and times: 6.50am from the YHA Perth at 300 Wellington Street
Passengers are advised to arrive 15 minutes before departure.
Arrival: Monday +/- 7.00 pm, Adelaide.
Swim with sea lions and dolphins ($180pp)
This is an amazing experience and highlight of the tour. The interaction that you will have with the sea lions and dolphins at the beautiful and sheltered Baird Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, will leave you breathless. Board the 14-seater boat for a short ride to our first stop, where you’ll swim with sea lions. This takes place in approximately two metres of water. It is a natural experience and the sea lions come into the sheltered lagoon to interact with us.
After this, head further out into the bay to swim with the majestic bottle nose dolphins. This happens in four metres of water but is still within the sheltered bay. The tour is 3-4 hours and a wetsuit and snorkel equipment are included.
Great White Shark Experiences in Port Lincoln
Adventure Bay Charters From $389pp - $564pp
This is Australia’s first Advanced Eco-certified White Shark Tour. Sustainable and responsible, Adventure Bay Charters use rock music to attract the sharks, which also makes for a great vibe on the boat for your tour. They also have the only Aqua Sub, dry glass viewing platform with 360-degree views of the Great Whites in their natural habitat. This allows you to come face to face with the sharks and the cage divers whilst staying dry! If you are feeling brave you can upgrade on the day to have the ultimate thrill of plunging into the Southern Ocean with the sharks, from within the safety of the cage.
This full day tour to the Neptune Islands departs at 6.30am and returns at 6.30pm. It includes all equipment, breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. You also receive a selection of free images, which they will email to you within a couple of days.
Cost structure
If you opt to enter the cage but do not see any Great White Sharks you will not pay the $175 Cage Entry fee, just the $350 + $39.
Calypso Star Charters Shark Cage Diving $532pp
Calypso Star Charters was established in 1990 and have a proud history of providing safe and exciting Advanced Eco Certified Shark Cage Diving. They are the only one-day Shark Cage Diving South Australian tour operator who is permitted to use natural fish berley (chum) to attract the sharks. This sustainable practice provides passengers with the best possible chance of sighting and interaction close to the vessel and cage, which will enhance your incredible experience.
The full days charter boards at 6.30am and it takes about 2.5 hours to get out to the Neptune Islands. No diver experience is required. All food and equipment is supplied and MV Calypso Star 2 is the only Shark Cage Diving vessel fitted with a Gyroscopic Stabiliser, increasing guests’ comfort throughout the day.
Please note the $532 rate is inclusive of a $37 Department of Environment Fee.
On days of nil sightings of White Sharks, all guests will be refunded $100 and provided a $200 voucher off a future tour.
Please keep in mind
Camping: Our tours are camping adventures and participation and involvement is required from our passengers. Accommodation on tour is a mixture of national parks, campgrounds, bush camps (no facilities). When camping, we use individual swags provided by Nullarbor Traveller. (Our wet weather option is 3 person dome tents shared by a maximum of 2 people per tent) We like to be flexible with our camping spots as sometimes weather conditions will dictate the best place to camp. If the weather is unreliable the guide may suggest to the group to stop in an accommodated premises - this is at the individuals own cost.
